The blank slate : the denial of human nature in modern intellectual life
(Book)
Author
Published
New York : Viking, 2002., New York : Viking, 2002.
Physical Desc
xvi, 509 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.
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Location | Call Number | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|
Fort Morgan Public Library - NONFICTION | 155.234 PIN | Checked Out | June 15, 2024 |
Jackson County Public Library - NONFICTION | 155.2 Pin | On Shelf |
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Published
New York : Viking, 2002., New York : Viking, 2002.
Format
Book
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 461-489) and index.
Description
"In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. He shows how many intellectuals have denied the existence of human nature by embracing three linked dogmas: the Blank Slate (the mind has no innate traits), the Noble Savage (people are born good and corrupted by society), and the Ghost in the Machine (each of us has a soul that makes choices free from biology). Each dogma carries a moral burden, so their defenders have engaged in desperate tactics to discredit the scientists who are now challenging them." "Pinker injects calm and rationality into these debates by showing that equality, progress, responsibility, and purpose have nothing to fear from discoveries about a rich human nature. He disarms even the most menacing threats with clear thinking, common sense, and pertinent facts from science and history. Despite its popularity among intellectuals during much of the twentieth century, he argues, the doctrine of the Blank Slate may have done more harm than good. It denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces hardheaded analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of government, violence, parenting, and the arts." "Pinker shows that an acknowledgement of human nature that is grounded in science and common sense, far from being dangerous, can complement insights about the human condition made by millennia of artists and philosophers. All this is done in the style that earned his previous books many prizes and worldwide acclaim: wit, lucidity, and insight into matters great and small."--BOOK JACKET.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Pinker, S. (2002). The blank slate: the denial of human nature in modern intellectual life . Viking.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Pinker, Steven, 1954-. 2002. The Blank Slate: The Denial of Human Nature in Modern Intellectual Life. Viking.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Pinker, Steven, 1954-. The Blank Slate: The Denial of Human Nature in Modern Intellectual Life Viking, 2002.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Pinker, Steven. The Blank Slate: The Denial of Human Nature in Modern Intellectual Life Viking, 2002.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.
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